"His name shall be called
Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty
God, The everlasting Father, The
Prince of Peace" (Isa. 9:6).
This text is recognized by Bible
scholars as Messianic, that is, it tells us
of the Messiah to come. In Isaiah 7:14
emphasis is made on the birth of the
Messiah. In Isaiah 11:1-5 we read of
the kind of rule the Messiah will
inaugurate. In this text we learn of the
person of the Messiah, and through
His titles, His characteristics.
"Wonderful" goes with
"Counsellor." The word "wonderful"
is sometimes used in the Bible to mean
"supernatural." For example Judges
13:18 states: "The angel of the Lord
said unto him, Why askest thou thus
after my name, seeing it is secret?"
"Secret.
The Heb.
pel' y
is an
adjective meaning 'wonderful.' The
noun form of the same word is
translated 'Wonderful' in Isa. 9:6 (see
also Ex. 15:11; Isa. 25:1; 29:14; etc.).
The word denotes something
extraordinary, ineffable, beyond
human understanding."—S.D.A.
Bible Commentary,
vol. 2, p. 385.
God is a Counselor with more than
human resources to guide and
instruct.
A similar expression is used of God
in Isaiah 28:29. Not only is the advice
that our God gives right, but it is also
always suited to the occasion. We
should never seek counsel anywhere
else.
God as Counselor is the theme of
the lesson this week. Good counsel is
always important, whether from man
or from God, and counsel from God is
always good. In this world men owe
much of their happiness and success
to counsel that comes from others.
Misery and mistakes are all too
frequently due to our failure to accept
counsel that is offered, both human
and divine. Man always hurts himself
when he neglects to heed counsel
from Heaven.
The Word of God consists largely of
counsel that the Lord has given. It is
always the best counsel that can be
given, designed to give man
happiness, prosperity, and peace here
and an eternity of bliss in the world
beyond. Only to a slight extent have
men come to recognize the wisdom
and worth of the heavenly counsel
found in the Word of God. Giving
heed to injunctions will expand man's•
intellect, give health to his body, and
purify his soul.
"With the word of God in his hands,
every human being, wherever his lot
in life may be cast, may have such
companionship as he shall choose. In
its pages he may hold converse with
the noblest and best of the human
race, and may listen to the voice of the
Eternal as He speaks with men. As he
studies and meditates upon the
themes into which 'the angels desire
to look' (1 Peter 1:12), he may have
their companionship. He may follow
the steps of the heavenly Teacher, and
listen to His words as when He taught
on mountain and plain and sea.... He
who through the word of God has
lived in fellowship with heaven, will
find himself at home in heaven's
companionship."—Education, p. 127.
DAILY HIGHLIGHTS
1.
Counsel of Wisdom
(Isa. 40:13, 14)
2.
Counsel of Love
(Jer. 31:3)
3.
Counsel to a Minister
(2 Tim. 1:2; 2:7)
4.
Heaven's Counsel for All
(Eccl. 12:13)
5.
Counsel for Last-day People
(Rev. 3:18)
6.
Fruitage of Heeding God's Counsel
(Prov. 3:1, 2)